Today, I wanted some snacks to go with my drinks for the end of the year, so I stopped by various shops and bought what the staff recommended. Hmm, it was just okay (laughs). It wasn't as delicious as they said it would be! It was the usual tarako, right? (laughs) I don't think I'll come back to buy it again. It was just a very ordinary tarako!!!! Thank you for the meal.

I wanted to get my hands on some authentic spicy cod roe, so I picked up a brand called YamaYa, which seemed pretty famous. It was described as not just spicy, but also with a hint of yuzu flavor. I tried it, and it was delicious. It lived up to my expectations, with just the right amount of spiciness. Spicy cod roe from Kyushu is widely available nationwide, so there weren't any surprising or new discoveries for me. However, I did feel satisfied having bought and eaten the authentic product. - Reporter T.T

I bought it around 10 o'clock on Friday. After finishing a 2-night, 3-day trip to Fukuoka and Nagasaki to meet my girlfriend in the second half of Golden Week, I returned to Hokkaido. One of the must-buy souvenirs from Fukuoka is mentaiko (spicy cod roe)!! Each household in Kyushu has their favorite shop for mentaiko, and people often debate about it. My favorite is "Yamaya"♪ ・Deliciously Spicy ￥1,080. Representing Yamaya, this mentaiko is marinated in the special sauce that has been carefully protected since its establishment for 168 hours. It is a popular product with rich taste and quality. The reason I like Yamaya's mentaiko is because of the "special sauce"!! Without the sauce, it's just ordinary cod roe. But with the sauce, it becomes a spicy mentaiko! I'm not a fan of spicy food, so I only put half of the sauce. With the leftover sauce, I make mentaiko pasta or pour it over cold tofu. This mentaiko sauce is versatile!! Honestly, I have a child-like palate and think all mentaiko is delicious, but I give an extra vote to Yamaya for their value. I bought two boxes of this and sent one to my partner♪

When it comes to mentaiko, I think of "Yamaya"←Really? lol I recently encountered a shocking mentaiko. It's called "Dekitatementai," and I had never seen it in Tokyo before. Simply put, the finished mentaiko is delivered directly from the factory to consumers without ever being frozen. The expiration date is about 1 week to 10 days, but the texture of the grains is amazing!! No coloring, no additives. And the price is a whopping 1680 yen!!! It's a luxury item, isn't it? The large, plump mentaiko is amazing when eaten on top of hot rice… It's delicious, but apparently once you try it, you won't be able to go back to other mentaiko. So I didn't compare it with others. This is delicious! Oh, I wish someone would give it to me as a gift lol.

My father went on a business trip to Hakata, so he brought back some Yama-ya mentaiko as a souvenir! There are many different brands of mentaiko, but Yama-ya is my favorite. The texture of the mentaiko is similar across brands, but each brand has its own unique flavor. Yama-ya doesn't use much coloring, so you can taste the true flavor of mentaiko, which makes it very delicious! Of course, it's great to eat with rice, but it's also really tasty when mixed with pasta! There is a Yama-ya store in Tokyo as well, and I heard that they offer all-you-can-eat mentaiko for lunch, so I definitely need to try that sometime!

In Fukuoka, there is a specialty store for mentaiko. I received a popular Fukuoka souvenir, mentaiko with yuzu flavor. It is soft with a nice chewy texture. The spiciness is not too intense, more like the spiciness of yuzu pepper. It goes really well with hot steamed rice. It has a slight sweetness within the spiciness, making it quite delicious.

In the autumn of 2016, as the end of the Edo period approaches, a young aspiring constable named Ryunosuke Fukukawa is on a mission to solve the mystery of the flying rock. Little did anyone know, his true identity is the eleventh son of the Tadaya Tokugawa family, Tokugawa Ryunosuke! Despite being an aspiring constable, he has successfully solved many difficult and unusual cases, but the mystery of the flying rock proves to be a challenging one. Intrigued by the rumors of a flying iron, Ryunosuke heads to Fukuoka Airport to investigate. Upon seeing the flying iron, he is left speechless. He decides to take a break and enjoy a famous bento box from Hakata. Inside the bento box, he finds "Hakata mentaiko mackerel sushi" which surprises him with its generous portion of mackerel. Despite his initial reluctance to play with food, he finds himself enjoying the dish. The thickly sliced grilled mackerel, combined with the unique mentaiko sauce, creates a delicious flavor that he has never experienced before. As he indulges in the dish, he is interrupted by a sudden attack from Yagyu Zenkuro, a master swordsman from the Yagyu clan. However, Ryunosuke's encounter with Yagyu Zenkuro turns out to be nothing more than a figment of his imagination, as he gets lost in his own fantasies.

When you think of Fukuoka, mentaiko (spicy cod roe) is the first thing that comes to mind. Yamaya is a famous shop even among people in Kanto. Mentaiko is delicious, of course, but there are also many sweets and souvenirs made with mentaiko. Among them, one that caught my eye was this. It seemed like it would go well with alcohol, so I bought it. Hakata Mentaiko Grilled Mackerel Sushi / 1296 yen Colorful mentaiko between rice and mackerel! It has a nice kick and adds a good accent. There is plenty of mentaiko in it, which is nice. I prefer regular mackerel sushi in terms of taste, but it's a unique Fukuoka souvenir and interesting. It can be kept until the next day. It was also sold at the airport. Thank you for the meal.

Yamaya Honpo, known for its spicy mentaiko. Authentic mentaiko at a reasonable price! The spiciness is mild and easy to eat. It's irresistible when eaten with rice. It also tastes amazing when mixed with pasta. Perfect for souvenirs as it is vacuum-packed. Address: 5-27-5 Matsushima, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Business hours: 9:00-19:00. Closed on New Year's Day. Website: http://www.yamaya.com/index.shtml

"Wherever we go, we leave our footprints squad (souvenir edition) (named by bankara) received from a customer. When it comes to spicy cod roe, "Yamaya" is famous, but I was surprised to see so many different brands when I visited Fukuoka. Furthermore, I learned that there are brands making it even in the Kanto region, and I wondered how much the people love cod roe. I received a gift of "uncolored spicy cod roe" from Isetan. This cod roe doesn't have much spiciness but has a lot of umami flavor. It can be used as a snack with alcohol or as a side dish with rice, like a versatile player, and it was delicious."

The other day, I bought freshly made mentaiko (spicy cod roe) at Yama-ya in Hakata Hankyu. It was said to be mentaiko that had never been frozen before. Maybe this is something you can only taste in Fukuoka? I wanted to compare it, so I bought regular mentaiko (frozen once) at Yama-ya in Hakata Daimaru. When I tried both, they were totally different! The freshly made one had a distinct fresh flavor and each roe was crunchy. This is a rare find! I'll definitely buy it again. Also, I noticed at Daimaru that they don't have the "Ufufu Girls" program for young women in Hakata! I felt like I didn't have the motivation to look around. Maybe... is it because there aren't many "high-class girls" in Fukuoka, so they don't do this program? It seems to be a serious issue in Fukuoka now. That makes sense. If talented people stop coming out of Fukuoka, it will be a problem. Personally, I would have liked to see Fukuoka a decade ago when there were many talented people. I haven't been born yet, but... since I came to Fukuoka a year ago, I've felt a bit "lackluster" when I see people as a whole, rather than each individual. At first, I thought it was because it's a rural area, but I didn't feel that way when I was in other regions. At that time, I lived in a Tokyo bedroom community, with many major company research labs nearby and their employees living there, so maybe that had an influence. I think having capable people around balances things out. However, Fukuoka has been urbanizing in recent years. With that, if intelligent people come back, this issue seems to be heading towards a solution. If you're from Kyushu, you have a sense of the land and it seems like you might get a job transfer. I'm not from here, but I'm cheering for Fukuoka to get better in the future. I really think it would be better if this issue were recognized nationwide, maybe through television, etc.

Here in Fukuoka, it's about 1 km walk from Kaizuka Station. For those on business trips, it might be tough to transfer trains and walk all the way to visit (cries). Unless you're a local, it's a bit difficult to visit without a car. Now, where do you stand on the debate - which brand of spicy cod roe do you like? ・Yamaya... I like the elegant yuzu flavor, the spicy kick is strong ・Fukuya... I think it's good as it is, the natural feel is nice (I used to buy it often) ・Chikaei (untried) ・Kanefuku (untried) ・Fukusaya (untried) There are other brands too, but for now, I just like spicy cod roe in general. This time, I received some from Yamaya, and it's delicious whether raw or grilled. Each brand seems to have its own unique characteristics, so next time I'm on a business trip, I'll buy from other brands too. The scent of yuzu is so classy, isn't it? Thanks for the treat♪

I came here to purchase the classic spicy cod roe, karashi mentaiko, from Hakata, Fukuoka. The taste of the cod roe is exquisite, with a perfect balance of chili pepper that truly defines what karashi mentaiko is. It goes perfectly with rice, and you can eat as many bowls of rice as you want with it. When added to motsunabe (offal hot pot), the spiciness of the chili pepper enhances the dish, while the mellow flavor of the cod roe spreads throughout the pot, increasing the deliciousness. Mixing it with pasta creates a classic and delicious dish. Karashi mentaiko is a must-have.

When it comes to spicy mentaiko, Yamaya's Hirameki comes to mind! This time, I received a souvenir from the main store. The package immediately reminds me of the delicious taste I love. It's rare to receive souvenirs from the main store, so I'm very happy. Even though I don't usually cook, I went out of my way to cook rice and put the mentaiko on top of freshly cooked rice. Since I ate it alone, I can't share this joy with anyone, so I'm sharing it on Tabelog. The spicy mentaiko that spreads in my mouth was incredibly delicious!

【2015.04 Yamaya's Cutlet】Cutlet (cod roe that got damaged during the manufacturing process), this is the most cost-effective option for home use, so when I travel, I buy this from various brands. This time, I chose Yamaya's cutlet, and it turned out to be surprisingly delicious with a light saltiness. 【2014.01 Son's Fukuoka Souvenir】My son went to Fukuoka with his grandmother and brought back a souvenir, which included saury cod roe. It seems like he remembered how delicious the same product from Chikaei was before. Although the bones were not removed, the flavorful saury cod roe was tasty and went well with rice. 【2013.03 Souvenirs from Kyushu Business Trip - Part 1】During a business trip from Shikoku to Fukuoka and Shimonoseki, I bought a souvenir from the saury cod roe industry's number two, Yamaya's squid cod roe. It seems that there are companies researching such things as well. The saury cod roe I bought disappeared quickly when my family and I tried it that night, as it had just the right amount of spiciness and was sweet and savory. It was definitely a hit with everyone enjoying it with beer. Next up, part 2 of the Kyushu souvenirs, featuring sardine cod roe.

I participated in a tasting competition of mentaiko (spicy cod roe) from Fukusaya, Yamaya, and Fukuya. Among the three, the most refined one was Yamaya's mentaiko. It is the most prominent and popular at Fukuoka Airport. Yamaya also operates a popular sukiyaki restaurant chain in Tokyo, and I recently visited their branch in Shinbashi for their lunchtime all-you-can-eat mentaiko special. Although it was generous of them to offer such a deal, you can also enjoy their mentaiko in Tokyo without buying it as a souvenir. The special sauce that you can pour over the mentaiko is delicious. Personally, I preferred Yamaya over the other two options - Yamaya < Shobouan < Chikarae. Thank you for the meal!

I have eaten Yamaya's mentaiko many times before and decided to leave a comment here since there is a page for it. It is a famous shop for Hakata's spicy mentaiko. It is one of the products I always buy whenever I go to Kyushu. This time, I bought it at Fukuoka Airport. I usually travel by car within a certain range, so I had never been to Fukuoka Airport before. However, my flight from Ishigaki to Nagoya via Naha and Chubu was suddenly changed to Ishigaki to Fukuoka to Chubu, so I had the opportunity to buy it at Fukuoka Airport. I bought sliced mentaiko and a tube for onigiri. As expected, mentaiko is delicious. It goes well with alcohol and rice. It is a top choice as a rice accompaniment. I recently discovered the tube for onigiri (I apologize if it has been around for a while). It was convenient for making onigiri.

When I bought it, it was frozen solid. The sales staff advised me to store it in the refrigerator as it will thaw in a few hours and to consume it within 2 weeks. I brought it back to Osaka and unknowingly found it half eaten over the weekend. I tried it over rice and it was delicious! It had an elegant flavor with no fishy smell, and a hint of yuzu. I had to resist the urge to eat too much, as consuming a lot of carbohydrates is dangerous for an old man like me. Mentaiko for onigiri at ¥480 is a dangerous friend of rice. It is a dish that makes rice dangerously irresistible. Everyone, be careful not to overeat. Enjoy your meal!

Hello, it's Youhee☆ This time, I want to introduce a souvenir my dad brought back for me. It's the spicy cod roe from "Yamaya Honten" in Fukuoka! My dad always buys various souvenirs when he goes on business trips, but this spicy cod roe is one of the top choices! So, when I heard that my dad was going on a business trip to Kyushu, I got really excited<(｀^´)> Oh, spicy cod roe! I'm really happy about it(^^) He bought the Yamaya spicy cod roe (natural color, 300g in a barrel, 3150 yen)☆-(ノﾟДﾟ)八(ﾟДﾟ)ノ Authentic spicy cod roe is just different, right? I tried it at home with rice, and Masumi made dashimaki tamago and simmered pumpkin as well☆ Masumi's dashimaki tamago is delicious, right? The pumpkin is tasty too!!! (I have to praise her properly((+_+))) And, most importantly, it goes well with the spicy cod roe☆ Whether with rice or dashimaki, adding a little spicy cod roe ( =ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ can enhance the flavor☆ It makes the dining table look luxurious with just this addition(ﾉ´∀｀*) We had a delicious home-cooked meal and I'm satisfied☆ Masumi, please make it again when you're feeling energetic(^^) I want to eat spicy cod roe againー (･ω･)ﾉ@Dad, thank you very much!!

This is a souvenir from an acquaintance. I received a snack called "Myouga Hananatou" made by the famous "Yamaya", known for its spicy cod roe. When I opened it at home, the box had the familiar color of spicy cod roe. Inside, there were three small bags, all in the same spicy cod roe color, and it said it was a limited edition only available at Hakata and Kokura stations, which made me happy as I love limited edition items. The actual Myouga Hananatou was slim and had small grains on the surface, which I realized was the spicy cod roe. When I tasted it, it started off like regular Myouga Hananatou, but quickly turned into a spicy taste, definitely not for children but for adults. The mix of sweetness and spiciness lingered, showing the quality of "Yamaya". I now want to try regular spicy cod roe with warm rice next time. Thank you for the souvenir. It was delicious.